Much Expected Of The Oil Palm Industry

The Solomons Sixth Development Plan has been relying on the oil palm becoming the Solomons’ second biggest agricultural export industry, with oil and kernel production starting in late 1975-76, and total value of output reaching $2.3 million by 1980. This could be added to by a peasant outgrower scheme which could bring the value of export output to $3 million f.o.b. by roughly the same date.

In fact, the whole picture of future export priorities could change, depending on the price of copra which was to be easily the biggest export earner when the plan was written for 1971-73. With copra prices continuing to be low, and with poor prospects, oil palm could be competing with the proposed commercial fishing industry in partnership with Taiyo, for the position of top export earner. Final negotiations on the fishing agreement were going on between Taiyo, the Solomons government and its advisors late in October.